Folding table

ABSTRACT

A collapsible table assembly having improved portability. A mechanism interconnects the table and supporting legs for moving the legs between a diverging supporting position, a folding position, and a storage position. A saw track assembly includes an upper platform for receiving a cutting device and a lower platform for supporting a workpiece during cutting connected to the upper platform. Each of the upper and lower platform are disposed above the table. A guide pin pivotally attaches the saw track to the table for allowing the saw track to pivot through a plane parallel to the table. A plurality of material supports supported by the table rotate between a first material supporting position for supporting a workpiece and a second unobstructing position for allowing the saw track to freely pivot through the plane without contacting the material supports.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention relates to collapsible portable saw tables forsupporting a cutting device and a workpiece during cutting.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Portable saw tables that can be transported to a job site and used arewell known as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,872,755,4,197,775, 4,452,117, 5,080,152, and 5,473,968.

A typical collapsible saw table is light in weight and easilymanipulated, and comprises a table base with a plurality of leg supportassemblies for supporting a workpiece, a saw track which pivots by somemeans about the table base, and a slide movable longitudinally along thetable base. The saw track supports a portable saw or router for cutting,and typically attaches to the table base at a pivot point and at theslide, thereby allowing the saw track to pivot to multiple cuttingangles as the slide moves along the base.

The legs attached to the table base of some folding saw tables do notprovide adequate support for the table, resulting in the instability ofthe table during cutting. The table base typically contains multiplematerial support crossbars; however, a board or other item that requiresperiodic replacement must also be used if complete material support isdesired. Typical collapsible saw tables used for cutting largeworkpieces are generally very heavy and are not easily portable makingit difficult to transfer the table from one work site to another.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

In accordance with one form of the present invention, a collapsibletable assembly having improved portability is provided having a tablewith a periphery and a pair of first and second legs for supporting thetable. A mechanism interconnects the legs and the table for moving thelegs between a diverging supporting position, a folding position, and astorage position wherein the legs are disposed within the tableperiphery.

In another aspect of the invention, a saw track assembly is provided foruse with a saw table including an upper platform for receiving a cuttingdevice and a lower platform connected to the upper platform forsupporting a workpiece during cutting, wherein the upper and lowerplatforms are disposed above the table.

In a further aspect of the invention, a periphery has a front rail and arear rail spaced from the front rail and interconnected to the frontrail by a plurality of cross-members. A saw track includes the upper andlower platforms. A guide pin disposed on the rear rail pivotallyattaches the saw track to the rear rail, thereby allowing the saw trackto pivot through a plane parallel to the periphery. A plurality ofmaterial supports are supported by and extend between the front and rearrails for rotating between a material supporting position for supportinga workpiece and an unobstructing position for allowing the saw track tofreely pivot through the plane without contacting the material supports.

The mechanism interconnecting the legs and the table allows the legs toadequately support the table during cutting, resulting in increasedtable stability as compared to other collapsible saw tables. Using thelower platform of the saw track to support the workpiece eliminates theneed for a board to provide material support and also minimizes the needfor a table top which greatly reduces the overall weight of the tableand increases ease of portability. The moveable material supportsfurther minimize the need for a table top while allowing the saw trackto pivot freely to a desired cutting angle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated asthe same becomes better understood by reference to the followingdetailed description when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible table assembly with legsin a supporting position and a saw track attached;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear of the collapsible tableassembly with legs in a supporting position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rear bottom of the collapsible tableassembly with one pair of legs in the supporting position, one pair oflegs in a storage position and a shadowed view of one pair of legs in afolding position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom of the collapsible tableassembly with both pair of legs in the storage position;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the collapsible table assemblyshowing a locking spring in an uncompressed position;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the collapsible table assemblyshowing the locking spring in a compressed position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a material guide showinga guide spring in an uncompressed position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the material guideshowing the guide spring in a compressed position;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the collapsible table assemblyshowing two cross-members with struts attached and two material supportcross-bars;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the saw track with a cutting deviceattached;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the second embodiment ofthe saw track;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the table assembly with asecond embodiment of the saw track attached;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the table assembly showingan extension of the saw track just prior to engaging a saw guard of thecutting device; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of the table assembly showingthe extension maintaining a blade of the cutting device in an exposedcondition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, a collapsible table assembly is generallyshown at 20, having improved portability and including a pair of first22 and second 24 legs in a diverging supporting position and generallyshown at 26. The table 20 includes a front rail 28 and a rear rail 30spaced from the front rail 28, with the rails 18 and 20 interconnectedby a plurality of cross-members 32 to define a periphery generally shownat 34. A mechanism, generally shown at 36 (FIGS. 3 and 4), connects eachpair of legs 22, 24 to the table 20. The mechanism 36 includes a support38 rotatably attached to the front rail 28 and to the rear rail 30 suchthat the support 38 rotates about a horizontal connecting axis 40. Afirst pivot 42 (FIG. 5) connects the first leg 22 to the support 38,while a second pivot 44 connects the second leg 24 to the support 38,thereby allowing the first and second legs 22, 24 to pivot about thefirst and second pivots 42, 44. A foldable linkage, generally indicatedat 46 (FIGS. 3 and 4), includes a first link 48 pivotally attached tothe first leg 22 and a second link 50 pivotally attached to the secondleg 24. A fastener 52 pivotally connects the first and second links 48,50, which, in turn, interconnect the first and second legs 22, 24.

A storage position is shown at 54 in FIG. 4 wherein the first and secondlegs 22, 24 are disposed within the periphery 34 of the table 20, i.e.,within the edges or confines of the rails 18 and 20. A leg lock 56 holdsthe legs in place in the storage position 54 such that the legs 22, 24are immobile while the leg lock 56 is engaged. In the preferredembodiment, the leg lock 56 comprises a substantially L-shaped memberattached to one of the plurality of cross-members 32 such that the firstleg 22 nestles within the leg lock 56 to maintain the storage position54. However, it should be appreciated that another device could functionas a leg lock 56 for keeping the legs 22, 24 in the storage position 54.A handle 58 is disposed on the rear rail 30 for carrying the table 20while in the storage position 54.

A folding position, as shown generally in phantom at 60 in FIG. 3,results when the support 38 rotates from the storage position 54 aboutthe connecting axis 40 such that the first and second legs 22, 24 aresubstantially perpendicular to the periphery 34. From the foldingposition 60, the first and second legs 22, 24 pivot in a plane thatincludes the connecting axis 40, thereby diverging from one another toform the diverging supporting position 26. The foldable linkage 46limits the outward or diverging pivoting movement of the legs 22, 24,thereby maintaining the diverging supporting position 26 by preventingthe legs 22, 24 from overrotating. A strut 62 includes a first end 64pivotally attached to the table 20 at one of the plurality ofcross-members 32, and extends to a second end 66 pivotally attached tothe foldable linkage 46. The strut 62 further maintains the divergingsupporting position 26 by limiting rotation of the support 38. It shouldbe appreciated that the strut 62 could also attach to the legs 22, 24 oranother part of the table 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment includes a pair oftelescoping extensions shown generally at 68 for extending the table 20as necessary to support a workpiece W. Each extension 68 comprises apair of telescoping members 72, 74 housed within the front rail 28 andrear rail 30 respectively. A connecting handle 76 interconnects thetelescoping members 72, 74. To use the telescoping extension 68, theconnecting handle 76 is pulled to achieve a desired table length.

A saw track assembly is generally shown at 78 for use with a saw table.The saw track 78 includes an upper platform 80 for receiving a cuttingdevice C and a lower platform 82 spaced from and connected to the upperplatform 80 for supporting a workpiece W (shown in phantom in FIG. 11)during cutting. The upper platform 80 and the lower platform 82 aredisposed above the table 20. In the preferred embodiment, shown in FIGS.1 and 10, the upper platform 80 comprises a first member 84 and a secondmember 86 spaced from the first member 84 attached by an upperconnecting member 88. Similarly, the lower platform 82 comprises a firstsupport rail 90 and a second support rail 92 spaced from the firstsupport rail 90. In a second embodiment, shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, theupper platform 80 comprises only a first member 84, while the lowerplatform 82 includes both the first and second support rails 90, 92.

The upper platform 80 includes a guide shown generally at 94 in FIGS. 11and 13 for receiving the cutting device C. The guide 94 comprises atleast one longitudinal channel 96. A connection plate 98 fits within thelongitudinal channel 96 and slides along the upper platform 80. In thepreferred embodiment (FIG. 13), a longitudinal channel 96 is disposedwithin each of the first and second members 84, 86. A pair of firstbolts 100 and second bolts 102 extend through the connection plate 98and fit within each longitudinal channel 96 allowing the connectionplate 98 to slide along the upper platform. A plurality of clamps 103attach the cutting device C to the connection plate 98 such that thecutting device slides with the connection plate 98 along the upperplatform 80. The upper connection member 88 prevents the connectionplate 98, and thus the attached cutting device C, from escaping theupper platform 80 in a direction closest to a user during cutting. Asecurity pin 104 disposed within the upper platform 80 prevents theconnection plate 98 from escaping the upper platform 80 in a directionfurthest from the user during cutting. The second embodiment (FIG. 11)includes a pair of longitudinal channels 96 disposed within the outeredges of the upper platform 80. The cutting device C permanentlyattaches to the connection plate 98 such that a different connectionplate 98 is required for each different cutting device C. The edges ofthe connection plate 98 nestle within the longitudinal channels 96allowing the connection plate 98 and the attached cutting device C toslide along the upper platform 80. In the second embodiment, a pair ofsecurity pins 104 at each end of the upper platform 80 prevent theconnection plate 98 and the cutting device C from escaping the upperplatform 80 during cutting. To change cutting devices, either securitypin 104 is removed and the connection plate 98 and associated cuttingdevice C slide off of the upper platform 98. Similarly, a new connectionplate 98 and associated cutting device C slide onto the upper platform98.

A stowable cord support 106 is disposed on the upper platform 80 andprevents accidental cutting of an electrical power cord P on the cuttingdevice C during cutting. An extension 108 connected to the upperplatform 80, best shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, engages a saw guard G fromthe cutting device C to expose the blade B as the cutting device Cslides along the upper platform 80. In the preferred embodiment, theextension 108 is integrally formed with the upper platform 80. However,other embodiments are conceivable. A blade groove 110 (FIG. 7) in thefirst support rail 90 of the lower platform 82 surrounds the blade B ofthe cutting device C during cutting such that the blade B does notcontact the lower platform 82.

A guide pin 112 (FIG. 2) protrudes from the rear rail 30 for attachingthe saw track 78 to the table 20 and for allowing the saw track 78 topivot in a horizontal plane parallel to the periphery 34. The lowerplatform 82 includes an attachment groove 114 (FIGS. 12 and 14),preferably disposed within the first support rail 90. The guide pin 112nestles within the attachment groove 114 such that the lower platform 82pivots around and moves longitudinally along the guide pin 112 as thesaw track 78 pivots through the plane. It should be understood that theattachment groove 114 could also be a slot cut into a one-piece lowerplatform or other such device.

A plurality of material supports 116, 118 are supported by and extendbetween the front and rear rails 18, 20. Using one or more materialsupports 116, 118 in conjunction with the lower platform 62 allows fullsupport of a workpiece W without a tabletop, thereby greatly reducingthe bulk of the table 20 and significantly increasing portability. Asshown in FIG. 9, each material support 116, 118 rotates between amaterial supporting position, as in the case of support 116, and anunobstructing position, as in the case of support 118. In the materialsupporting position 116, a portion of the material support 116 protrudesabove the periphery 34. In the unobstructing position 118, shown inphantom in FIG. 9, the material support 118 is disposed within or belowthe plane of the periphery 34, thereby allowing the saw track 78 topivot freely through the plane. A material support lock 120 engages eachmaterial support 116, 118 to prevent rotation until movement from thematerial supporting position 116 to the unobstructing position 118 isdesired. In the preferred embodiment, the material support lock 120comprises a locking spring 122 moveable between an uncompressedposition, as shown in FIG. 5, and a compressed position, as shown inFIG. 6. In the locked material supporting position 116, the lockingspring 122 rests in the uncompressed position. To rotate the materialsupport 116, the locking spring 122 is compressed by pushing thematerial support 116 toward the rear rail 30, thereby disengaging thematerial support lock 120. The material support 116 then rotatesdownward to the unobstructing position 118. When the material support118 is released, the locking spring 122 returns to the uncompressedposition. A material support stop 124 engages each material support 116,118 to maintain the unobstructing position. In the preferred embodiment,the material support stop 124 is disposed on the rear rail 30 such thatthe material support 118 rests thereon while in the unobstructingposition.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the front rail 28 includes a slide channel 126for receiving a slide 128. Preferably, the slide 128 includes a flange(not shown) disposed within the slide channel 126 for sliding the slide128 along the front rail 28. A track plate 130 pivotally connects thesaw track 78 to the slide 128 for pivotal movement in the horizontalplane. As best shown in FIG. 5, the slide 128 in the preferredembodiment includes an aperture 131 for receiving a connection pin 132to secure the saw track 78 to the slide 128. A spring-loaded pin 33 fitshorizontally within the aperture for restricting entry of the connectionpin. The spring-loaded pin engages the spring to clear the aperture,thereby allowing the connection pin to enter. As the slide 128 movesalong the slide channel 126, the saw track 78 pivots relative to thetable 20 to various angles. The lower platform 82 moves around the guidepin 112 such that the saw track 78 remains fixed to the slide 128 at thetrack plate 130. A slide lock 134 is disposed on the slide 128 forpreventing movement of the slide 128 within the slide channel 126 tomaintain the slide track 60 at a desired angle during cutting. The slidelock 134 rotates to tighten into sufficient frictional engagement withthe front rail 28 to prevent the sliding movement.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the table 20 further includes a pair ofmaterial guides 136 spaced longitudinally apart from one another andeach hingedly attached to the rear rail 30. Each material guide 136moves between a guiding position, shown in FIG. 7, and a quiescentposition, shown in phantom in FIG. 8. In the guiding position, thematerial guide 136 projects above the periphery 34 and provide lateralsupport during cutting as a workpiece W rests thereagainst. In thequiescent position, the material guide 136 lies flush against the rearrail 30. A material guide lock 140 engages the material guide 136 toprevent rotation until movement from the quiescent position to theguiding position is desired. In the preferred embodiment, the materialguide lock 140 comprises a guide spring 142 moveable between anuncompressed position, as shown in FIG. 7, and a compressed position, asshown in FIG. 8. To rotate the material guide 136, the guide spring 142is compressed by pushing the material guide 136 along the rear rail 30toward the guide spring 142 until the guide spring 142 reaches thecompressed position. The material guide 82 then rotates upward to theguiding position. To maintain the guiding position, the guide spring 142is released to the uncompressed position. Movement of the material guide136 is only possible when the guide spring 142 is in the compressedposition. A ruler or a protractor may be attached to the material guide136 or to the rear rail 30 for further assistance during cutting. Amaterial stop 144 (FIG. 5) attaches to the rear rail 30 or one of thematerial guides 136 to further maintain the position of the workpiece Wduring cutting.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may bepracticed otherwise than as specifically described within the scope ofthe appended claims.

1-47. (canceled)
 48. A collapsible table assembly having improvedportability, said assembly comprising: a table having a periphery; afirst pair of legs and a second pair of legs spaced apart from oneanother and moveable between a storage position defined within saidperiphery and a supporting position for supporting said table havingsaid pair of legs extending downwardly from said periphery; and each ofsaid pair of legs having a first leg and a second leg coupled to saidtable and being extendable inwardly and outwardly for creating a stablesupporting position when said legs are outwardly extending and forallowing said respective pair of legs to be stored within said peripheryin said storage position when said legs are inwardly extending.
 49. Anassembly as set forth in claim 48 further comprising a foldable linkageinterconnecting said first and said second legs for permitting apivoting movement between said outwardly extending supporting positionand said inwardly extending storage position.
 50. An assembly as setforth in claim 48 further comprising a support rotatable about aconnecting axis and extending between said first and said second legsrotatably attaching said legs to said table
 51. An assembly as set forthin claim 50 further comprising first and second pivots coupled to saidsupport and pivotally connecting said first and said second legsrespectively to said support for extending inwardly and outwardly. 52.An assembly as set forth in claim 49 wherein said foldable linkagefurther comprises a first link and a second link pivotally attached tosaid first leg and said second link respectively.
 53. An assembly as setforth in claim 52 wherein said foldable linkage further comprises afastener pivotally connecting said first link and said second link. 54.An assembly as set forth in claim 49 further comprising a strut having afirst end pivotally attached to said table and a second end pivotallyattached to said foldable linkage for maintaining said pair of legs insaid supporting position.
 55. An assembly as set forth in claim 48further comprising a leg lock associated with each pair of legs coupledto said table for maintaining said pair of legs in said storageposition.
 56. An assembly as set forth in claim 48 wherein saidperiphery is further defined as a first rail and a second rail spacedfrom said first rail.
 57. An assembly as set forth in claim 56 furthercomprising cross-members interconnecting said first and said secondrails.
 58. An assembly as set forth in claim 48 further comprising astrut having a first end pivotally attached to said table and a secondend pivotally attached to said pair of legs for maintaining said pair oflegs in said supporting position.
 59. An assembly as set forth in claim48 further comprising a handle coupled to said table for transportingsaid assembly in said storage position.